Power aware receiver/transmitter adaptation for high speed serial interfaces

Abstract

A receiver includes first and second equalization modules adapted to provide first and second compensations to a data signal, and a control module including a list that identifies the first equalization module as being less efficient than the second. The control module provides first and second compensation levels of the first and second compensations, such that the first and second compensations operate on the data signal to meet a bit error rate (BER) target, lowers the first compensation to reduce the power consumption of the receiver based on the list, and determines whether, in response to an increase in the level of the second compensation the BER target is met.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A receiver, comprising:
 a first equalization module adapted to provide a first compensation to a data signal received by the receiver; 
 a second equalization module adapted to provide a second compensation to the data signal; and 
 a control module including a first list that identifies the first equalization module as being less efficient than the second equalization module, the control module adapted to:
 provide a first compensation level of the first compensation and a second compensation level of the second compensation, such that the first compensation level and the second compensation level combine to operate on the data signal to meet a bit error rate (BER) target; 
 set the level of the first compensation from the first compensation level to a third compensation level to reduce a power consumption of the receiver based on the first list identifying the first equalization module as being less efficient than the second equalization module; and 
 determine whether, in response to an increase in the level of the second compensation from the second compensation level to a fourth compensation level, a combination of the third compensation level and the fourth compensation level operate on the data signal to meet the BER target. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The receiver of  claim 1 , wherein the control module is further adapted to:
 set the level of the second compensation from the second level to the fourth level when the third compensation level and the fourth compensation level combine to operate on the data signal to meet the BER target. 
 
     
     
       3. The receiver of  claim 1 , wherein the control module is further adapted to:
 determine that the first compensation level is greater than a first threshold for the first compensation, wherein setting the level of the first compensation is in response to determining that the first compensation level is greater than a first threshold. 
 
     
     
       4. The receiver of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a third equalization module adapted to provide a third compensation to the data signal; 
 wherein the first list further identifies the second equalization module as being less efficient than the third equalization module, and the control module is further adapted to:
 provide a fifth compensation level of the third compensation, such that the third compensation level, the fourth compensation level, and the fifth compensation combine to operate on the data signal to meet the BER target; 
 set the level of the second compensation from the fourth compensation level to a sixth compensation level to reduce a power consumption of the receiver based on the first list identifying the second equalization module as being less efficient than the third equalization module; and 
 determine whether, in response to an increase in the level of the third compensation from the fifth compensation level to a seventh compensation level, a combination of the third compensation level, the sixth compensation level, and the seventh compensation level operate on the data signal to meet the BER target. 
 
 
     
     
       5. The receiver of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the first list is associated with a first data transfer rate of the data signal; 
 the control module includes a second list associated with a second data transfer rate of the data signal, the second list identifying the first equalization module as being less efficient than the second equalization module and the third equalization module as being less efficient than the second equalization module; and 
 the control module is further adapted to:
 set the level of the third compensation from the fifth compensation level to a sixth compensation level to reduce a power consumption of the receiver based on the second list identifying the third equalization module as being less efficient than the second equalization module; and 
 determine whether, in response to an increase in the level of the second compensation from the fourth compensation level to a seventh compensation level, a combination of the third compensation level, the sixth compensation level, and the seventh compensation level operate on the data signal to meet the BER target. 
 
 
     
     
       6. The receiver of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a communication module coupled to a transmitter adapted to provide a third compensation to the data signal; 
 wherein the first list further identifies the second equalization module as being less efficient than the third equalization module, and the control module is further adapted to:
 provide direct the communication module to set a fifth compensation level of the third compensation, such that the third compensation level, the fourth compensation level, and the fifth compensation combine to operate on the data signal to meet the BER target; 
 set the level of the second compensation from the fourth compensation level to a sixth compensation level to reduce a power consumption of the receiver based on the first list identifying the second equalization module as being less efficient than the third equalization module; and 
 determine whether, in response to an increase in the level of the third compensation from the fifth compensation level to a seventh compensation level, a combination of the third compensation level, the sixth compensation level, and the seventh compensation level operate on the data signal to meet the BER target. 
 
 
     
     
       7. The receiver of  claim 1 , wherein the first equalization module comprises a decision feedback equalization (DFE) module, and setting the level of the first compensation from the first compensation level to a third compensation level comprises turning off the DFE module. 
     
     
       8. A method, comprising:
 providing, by a control module of a receiver, a first compensation level of a first compensation to a data signal received by the receiver, the first compensation being provided by a first equalization module of the receiver, and a second compensation level of a second compensation to the data signal, the second compensation being provided by a second equalization module of the receiver, such that the first compensation level and the second compensation level combine to operate on the data signal to meet a bit error rate (BER) target; 
 setting, by the control module, the level of the first compensation from the first compensation level to a third compensation level to reduce a power consumption of the receiver based on a first list identifying the first equalization module as being less efficient than the second equalization module; and 
 determining, by the control module, whether, in response to an increase in the level of the second compensation from the second compensation level to a fourth compensation level, a combination of the third compensation level and the fourth compensation level operate on the data signal to meet the BER target. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 setting, by the control module, the level of the second compensation from the second level to the fourth level when the third compensation level and the fourth compensation level combine to operate on the data signal to meet the BER target. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 determining, by the control module, that the first compensation level is greater than a first threshold for the first compensation, wherein setting the level of the first compensation is in response to determining that the first compensation level is greater than a first threshold. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 providing, by the control module, a fifth compensation level of a third compensation to the data signal, the fifth compensation being provided by a third, such that the third compensation level, the fourth compensation level, and the fifth compensation combine to operate on the data signal to meet the BER target; 
 setting, by the control module, the level of the second compensation from the fourth compensation level to a sixth compensation level to reduce a power consumption of the receiver based on the first list identifying the second equalization module as being less efficient than the third equalization module; and 
 determining, by the control module, whether, in response to an increase in the level of the third compensation from the fifth compensation level to a seventh compensation level, a combination of the third compensation level, the sixth compensation level, and the seventh compensation level operate on the data signal to meet the BER target. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the first list is associated with a first data transfer rate of the data signal; 
 the control module includes a second list associated with a second data transfer rate of the data signal, the second list identifying the first equalization module as being less efficient than the second equalization module and the third equalization module as being less efficient than the second equalization module; and 
 the method further comprising:
 setting, by the control module, the level of the third compensation from the fifth compensation level to a sixth compensation level to reduce a power consumption of the receiver based on the second list identifying the third equalization module as being less efficient than the second equalization module; and 
 determining, by the control module, whether, in response to an increase the level of the second compensation from the fourth compensation level to a seventh compensation level, a combination of the third compensation level, the sixth compensation level, and the seventh compensation level operate on the data signal to meet the BER target. 
 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the first list further identifies the second equalization module as being less efficient than a third equalization module of a transmitter coupled to the receiver; and 
 the method further comprises:
 directing, but the control module, the transmitter to set a fifth compensation level of the third compensation, such that the third compensation level, the fourth compensation level, and the fifth compensation combine to operate on the data signal to meet the BER target; 
 setting, by the control module, the level of the second compensation from the fourth compensation level to a sixth compensation level to reduce a power consumption of the receiver based on the first list identifying the second equalization module as being less efficient than the third equalization module; and 
 determining, by the control module, whether, in response to an increase in the level of the third compensation from the fifth compensation level to a seventh compensation level, a combination of the third compensation level, the sixth compensation level, and the seventh compensation level operate on the data signal to meet the BER target. 
 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the first equalization module comprises a decision feedback equalization (DFE) module; and 
 in setting the level of the first compensation from the first compensation level to a third compensation level, the method further comprises turning off the DFE module. 
 
     
     
       15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including code for performing a method, the method comprising:
 providing, by a control module of a receiver, a first compensation level of a first compensation to a data signal received by the receiver, the first compensation being provided by a first equalization module of the receiver, and a second compensation level of a second compensation to the data signal, the second compensation being provided by a second equalization module of the receiver, such that the first compensation level and the second compensation level combine to operate on the data signal to meet a bit error rate (BER) target; 
 setting, by the control module, the level of the first compensation from the first compensation level to a third compensation level to reduce a power consumption of the receiver based on a first list identifying the first equalization module as being less efficient than the second equalization module; and 
 determining, by the control module, whether, in response to an increase in the level of the second compensation from the second compensation level to a fourth compensation level, a combination of the third compensation level and the fourth compensation level operate on the data signal to meet the BER target. 
 
     
     
       16. The computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , the method further comprising:
 setting, by the control module, the level of the second compensation from the second level to the fourth level when the third compensation level and the fourth compensation level combine to operate on the data signal to meet the BER target. 
 
     
     
       17. The computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , the method further comprising:
 determining, by the control module, that the first compensation level is greater than a first threshold for the first compensation, wherein setting the level of the first compensation is in response to determining that the first compensation level is greater than a first threshold. 
 
     
     
       18. The computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , the method further comprising:
 providing, by the control module, a fifth compensation level of a third compensation to the data signal, the fifth compensation being provided by a third, such that the third compensation level, the fourth compensation level, and the fifth compensation combine to operate on the data signal to meet the BER target; 
 setting, by the control module, the level of the second compensation from the fourth compensation level to a sixth compensation level to reduce a power consumption of the receiver based on the first list identifying the second equalization module as being less efficient than the third equalization module; and 
 determining, by the control module, whether, in response to an increase in the level of the third compensation from the fifth compensation level to a seventh compensation level, a combination of the third compensation level, the sixth compensation level, and the seventh compensation level operate on the data signal to meet the BER target. 
 
     
     
       19. The computer-readable medium of  claim 18 , wherein:
 the first list is associated with a first data transfer rate of the data signal; 
 the control module includes a second list associated with a second data transfer rate of the data signal, the second list identifying the first equalization module as being less efficient than the second equalization module and the third equalization module as being less efficient than the second equalization module; and 
 the method further comprises:
 setting, by the control module, the level of the third compensation from the fifth compensation level to a sixth compensation level to reduce a power consumption of the receiver based on the second list identifying the third equalization module as being less efficient than the second equalization module; and 
 determining, by the control module, whether, in response to an increase in the level of the second compensation from the fourth compensation level to a seventh compensation level, a combination of the third compensation level, the sixth compensation level, and the seventh compensation level operate on the data signal to meet the BER target. 
 
 
     
     
       20. The computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the first list further identifies the second equalization module as being less efficient than a third equalization module of a transmitter coupled to the receiver; and 
 the method further comprises:
 directing, but the control module, the transmitter to set a fifth compensation level of the third compensation, such that the third compensation level, the fourth compensation level, and the fifth compensation combine to operate on the data signal to meet the BER target; 
 setting, by the control module, the level of the second compensation from the fourth compensation level to a sixth compensation level to reduce a power consumption of the receiver based on the first list identifying the second equalization module as being less efficient than the third equalization module; and 
 determining, by the control module, whether, in response to an increase in the level of the third compensation from the fifth compensation level to a seventh compensation level, a combination of the third compensation level, the sixth compensation level, and the seventh compensation level operate on the data signal to meet the BER target.